Oscillating warning light



u@ 3 B948 J. D. KENNELLY OSCILLTING WARNING LIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1945 vwl,

.1.` D. KENNELLY OSCILLATING WARNING LIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. `6, 1945 /llflllidllrltltlllflillllllllllvlifllnnrrlrlllllnhk..

aienied ug. 3, 1948 UNITED STAT-E S PATENT OFFICE OSCILLAI'ING WARNING LIGHT Jeremiah D. Kennelly, Oak Park, Ill.

Application December 6, 1945, Serial No. 633,214

'l Claims. (Cl. 177-329) nism in which a lens may be mounted as a stationarymember and in which the light or lightreecting source may be caused to move in a predetermined arc or course. 'A further object lato provide in such a structure an adjustably mounted reilector or light member for variation of the pattern of light projected therefrom A through the lens or from the signal device. Yet

another object-is to provide means for changing the color characteristics of the projected rays by automatic or motor driven means. Yet another object is to provide in combination with a light source, means for producing a change of color of the projected beams at any desired moment as a signal effect while valso providing means for automatically stopping the color changing mechanism at either limit of its movement. Other specific objects and advantages will' appear as the specication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in preferred embodiments, by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a broken side view in elevation of light signal apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2,'a longitudinal sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view of a modiiied form of apparatus equipped with means for changing the color or character of the projected rays, and Fig. 4, a plan sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1 and 2, l0 designates a casing which has an open front end in which is mounted a resilient ring il oi" rubber or other suitable material provided withl a recess receiving the peripheral edges of the lens i2. The ring Il is held in. position by an annular flange I3 integral with the casing I0 and also byangle iron member I8' which has a vertical flange l5 engaging the forward end of the ring I l.

The lens`l2 may be of anyA suitable shape or type. If desired, the lens may be provided with arcuate bands I8 or prisms which will tend to lbend the rays projected by a moving source of clamp is secured a reilector 3d.'

light and thus increase the signal eiect of the rays.

Within the casing I0 there is mounted a standard il which provides a bearing for the shaft member i8. Shaft i8 is driven through Vreduction gears i9 by the motor 2t which is secured by spot welding or other means to the rear wall of casing I0. The standard il supports a switch plate member 2i providing circular switch bands 22 with .which electrical connections 23 and 2t are made. The shaft i@ carries a disk 25 in which are mounted the plungers 2t and 2l which are spring-urged against the circular switch' plates 22. The disk member 25 is provided With a threaded recess 2d into which a set screw` it may be urged to lock the member 2E rigidly to the shaft i8. The shaft it, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2,l is preferably mounted upon ball bearings 30 supported within the member 2 l.

integrally formed with the disk member 25 are the arms or flanges 3l which provide .a yoke within which extends a support lever. The support lever 32 is pivotally secured within the yoke by the bolt 38.

The support lever 32 carries the clamp bolt 33' of well-known construction and within lthe A light bulb t5 is mounted within the reflector and clamp and has connections with the electric conduits 38 and 31 which make electrical contact with the plungers 26 and 2i through the interposed springs 3d and 39.

In the operation of the structure, when the motor is set into operation, shaft it is rotated and the disk member 2B rotates therewith. The support member 32 is maintained at an angle with respect to shaft i8 and by means of the clamping bolt 33 so that as shaft I8 and the member 25 are rotated, the clamping member 33 and reflector 34 are moved in a circular course. The circular course thus provided for the light source 35 and its reilector presents a constantly changing point for projection of light rays, and this movement together with the prismatic lens results in a constantly changing group of projected rays.

- Current is supplied through the members 23 and 24 to plates 22 and the current then passes continuously through the plungers 26 and 21,

may be loosened and the support member 32l by the movement oi' the light source with respect to the prism lens i2, I find that the signal effect is greatly enhanced by changing the color of the projected light beams at any desired point.

For example,I as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a colored lens may be drawn over the light source to change the color of the projected beams at any desired moment. For example, motor means may be set into operation by a manually operated switch t draw the colored lens over the light source to any point where it is desired to signal a warning, etc. If desired, the motor may be set into operation to bring the colored lens in front of the light source by automatic means such as, for example, when the pressure in the compressed air brake line drops below a predetermined point or upon any other change of condition in the vehicle.

In the illustration given in Figs. 3 and 4, a motor 40 is supported upon -the bottom wall oi casing I0 and drives through reduction gears 4i a vertically supported shaft 42. The shaft 42 is provided at its upper end with a worm 43. A bracket member 44 secured to a side wall of casing il provides a bearing for the rotation of shaft 42. The worm 43 meshes with the worm gear 45 iixed to shaft 45 which is supported for rotation by the bracket member 41. Bracket 41 has side ilanges4 which are welded to the casing Iii. Fixed to the shaft 45 is an arm 45 which is integral with a ring member 49. A resilient ring member 50, centrally recessed to receive the colored lens i, is secured to the forward end of the metal ring 4l by a metal angle iron 52 having one end preferably welded to the ring 49. The ring 49 is also provided with an integral arm 53 on the side of the casing opposite arm 48 and arm 53 is pivoted upon the pin 54 secured within bracket 55 which is welded to the side wall of casing i0.

In order to turn oiir the motor 40 after the colored lens has been swung to either extreme of its movement, I provide a plunger switch or limit switch 56 supported upon a bracket 51 to cut oil' the motor after the lens has been swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and another limit switch 58 supported within the bracket 59 having anges welded to the bottom wall of casing i0, for closing cil' the motor circuit when the lens frame 48 is swung to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4, upon the closing of the circuit of motor 44 either by the manual throwing of a switch or by reason of the automatic closing of a switch through the dropping of pressure in the brake line or upon any other changes in condition of the vehicle, the motor sets into operation the vertical shaft 42 and worm 43. Worm gear 45 is thus driven and produces a rotation of shaft 48. I'he arm 4l which is xed to shaft 46 thus moves the frame 49 from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to the forward position shown in full lines where the lens 5I occupies a position in front oi the rotatable reiiector 34 and light source 35. When the frame `:member 49 reaches the forward position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it presses inwardly the limit switch 58 which thereupon breaks the motor circuit.

Similarly. when a switch is moved, either manually or automatically as above described, the motor 40 is set in operation again and moves the lens 5I to the position shown in dotted limit in Fig. 3 and. in this position. the frame or ring 4l engages the limit switch 5I and opens the motor circuit to stop the motor.

While in the foregoing description, I have set forth certain apecinc details as illustrative ot one mode in which the invention may be used, itl will be understood that such details may be modiiled widely by those skilled in the artwithout departing irom the spirit oi my invention.

I claim:

' 1. In light signal apparatus, a casing provided with an opening. a lens mounted in the open end of said casing, a source of illumination mountedv in said casing for movement, means for moving said source of illumination within said casing relative to said lens, a frame pivotally mounted in said casing for movement to positions in iront oi and away from said light source, a colored lens carried byV said frame, and means for moving said frame to said positions.V

2. In light signal apparatus, a casing having an open front end, a lens carried in the open end of said casing, a light source member, a reflector member about said light source member, means for moving at least one of said members in a circular course relative to said lens, a trame pivotally mounted to positions in said casing for movement in front of and away from said members, a colored lens carried by said frame, and

means for moving said frame to each oi said positions.

3. In light signal apparatus, a casing provided with an opening, a lens mounted in the open end of said casing, a source of illumination mounted in said casing for movement, means for moving said source of illumination within said casing relative to said lens, a frame pivotally mounted in said casing for movement to positions in front of and away from said light source. a colored lens carried by said frame, means for moving said frame to said positions, and limit switch means eng'ageable by said frame at one limit cf its movement for stopping said last mentioned means.

4. In light signal apparatus, a casing having an open front end, a lens carried in the open end of said casing, a light source member, a reflector member about said light source member, means for moving at least one of said members in a circular course relative to said lens, a frame pivotally mounted in said casing for movement to positions in front of and away from said members, a colored lens carried by said frame, motor driven means for moving said frame to each of said positions, and switch means engageable by said frame at either limit of its movement for deenergizing said motor.

5. In light signal apparatus, a casing having an open end, a lens equipped with prismatic portions mounted in the open end of said casing, a light source member, a reiiector member about said light source member, means for moving at least one of said members relative to said prisms, a colored lens member mounted for movement to |positions in front of and 'away from said light and reilector members, and means for moving 'said colored lens into each of said positions.

6. In light signal apparatus adapted for use as a warning light on Vthe rear end of a train, a casing open at one end, a red-colored lens supported in the open end of said casing. a light source in said casing, a parabolic reflector behind said light source, the diameter of the reflector being substantially less than the diameter of the v lens, an electric motor mounted in said casing, a

Shaft driven by said motor for rotation substan- 5 tially in the center of said casing, and bracket arm structure ilxed to said shaft and supporting said reector eccentrically with respect to said shaft whereby as said shaft is rotated at a constant speed said reflector is moved bodily in a circular path within the ambit of said colored lens to project a beam of light through said lens which follows a conical path in space, traversing equal arcs thereof in successive equal intervals of time. l

7. In a warning light -for vehicles, a casing adapted to be supported upon a vehicle and having an open end, a lens mounted in the open end of said casing, a light source in said casing, a parabolic reflector behind said light source and adapted to project the light rays therefrom in substantially parallel lines, a shaft supported in said casing for rotation, a motor in said casing for rotating said shaft, and a bracket xed to the forward end of said shaft and supporting said reflector with the axis of said reflector at a small angle with respect to said shaft` whereby upon rotation of the shaft at a constant speed said reflector is moved bodily in a circular path within the ambit of said lens to 'project -a search light beam which follows a, conical path inspace, traversing equal arcs thereof in successive equal intervals of time.

JEREMIAH D. KENNELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: l

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kennelly Feb. 22, 1944 

